🎯 PRO SNIPER [Algotrend] — Complete Guide & Professional Review
📋 TABLE OF CONTENTS
- General Overview
- How It Works — Signal Architecture
- The Confluence Scoring Engine (10 Factors)
- Parameters — Detailed Guide for Every Setting
- Auto-Presets — Comparative Table
- The Grading System (A+, A, B, C)
- Risk Management — SL, TP & Trailing
- Dashboard & Backtest Tracker
- Practical Usage Tips
- Strengths & Limitations
1. 🔭 GENERAL OVERVIEW
Pro Sniper is a multi-confluence overlay indicator designed to generate high-reliability Long and Short signals. It does not rely on a single indicator — instead, it combines 10 different technical factors into a confluence score ranging from 0 to 10. A signal only fires when the score exceeds the configured minimum threshold.
The underlying concept is simple yet powerful: a single indicator (e.g. RSI in oversold territory) can produce false signals. But when RSI, MACD, EMA, VWAP, Volume, ADX, and the higher-timeframe trend all point in the same direction simultaneously, the probability of the trade working out increases significantly.
The indicator also includes a complete trade management system with 3 Take Profit levels, structural Stop Loss, and automatic trailing stop, plus a built-in backtest tracker that displays historical performance statistics in real time.
2. ⚙️ HOW IT WORKS — SIGNAL ARCHITECTURE
A Pro Sniper signal is born from the convergence of 6 simultaneous conditions:
Condition 1 — EMA Crossover 🔀 The Fast EMA must cross the Slow EMA. An upward cross = Long candidate, a downward cross = Short candidate. Without this crossover, no signal can ever fire. This is the fundamental "trigger."
Condition 2 — Momentum 📈 For a Long, price must be above both the Fast EMA and the Slow EMA. For a Short, below both. This filters out false crossovers where price is "trapped" between the two moving averages.
Condition 3 — RSI Filter 📊 RSI must not be in an extreme zone: for Longs it must be below 75 (not overbought), for Shorts above 25 (not oversold). This prevents entries when momentum is already exhausted.
Condition 4 — Minimum Score 🏆 The confluence score (0 to 10, calculated across 10 factors) must reach the configured minimum threshold. With the Default preset, at least 5/10 is required.
Condition 5 — Grade Filter 🏅 The signal must pass the selected quality filter (All, A+/A, or A+ Only).
Condition 6 — Direction 🚫 Consecutive signals in the same direction are not generated. After a Long, the next signal can only be a Short (or a new Long after the SL has been hit and the direction has been reset).
3. 🧮 THE CONFLUENCE SCORING ENGINE
The heart of the indicator is its scoring engine. For each bar, both a bullScore and a bearScore are calculated, each composed of 10 factors:
For LONG Signals (Bull Score):
#FactorConditionWeight
1
📈 EMA Direction
Fast EMA > Slow EMA
+1.0
2
📊 Macro Trend
Price > Trend EMA (long-period)
+1.0
3
💪 RSI Momentum
RSI between 50 and 75 (positive momentum, not exhausted)
+1.0
4
📉 MACD Histogram
MACD Histogram > 0
+1.0
5
🔀 MACD Cross
MACD Line > Signal Line
+1.0
6
⚖️ VWAP Position
Price > VWAP (above the volume-weighted average price)
+1.0
7
📦 Volume
Current volume > SMA(20) × 1.2 (above-average volume)
+1.0
8
🎯 ADX + DI
ADX > 20 and DI+ > DI- (strong trend in the right direction)
+1.0
9
🌐 HTF Bias
Fast EMA > Slow EMA on the higher timeframe
+1.5
10
✨ Price vs Fast
Price > Fast EMA (additional confirmation)
+0.5
Maximum theoretical score: 10.0 points
The weights are not equal across all factors. The higher-timeframe bias (HTF) is worth 1.5 points because it is the single most important filter: trading against the macro trend is the leading cause of losses. The "Price vs Fast EMA" factor is worth only 0.5 because it is a minor confirmation.
For SHORT signals (Bear Score), the logic is mirrored: Fast EMA < Slow, price below Trend EMA, RSI between 25 and 50, negative MACD, etc.
4. 📖 PARAMETERS — DETAILED GUIDE
⚙️ GROUP: Main Settings
🔹 Source (Default: Close) The price series used for all calculations (EMA, RSI, MACD). Options are: Close, Open, High, Low, Median (HL/2), Typical (HLC/3), Weighted ((H+L+2C)/4). In the vast majority of cases, Close is the best choice. Typical can be useful on highly volatile instruments because it slightly smooths the data.
🔹 HTF Trend Filter (Default: Current) The higher timeframe used to calculate the macro trend bias. When set to "Current," it uses the same timeframe as the chart. Recommended configuration: if you trade on M5-M15 use H1, if you trade on H1 use H4, if you trade on H4 use Daily. This filter is worth 1.5 points in the score and is designed to prevent trading against the dominant trend. The HTF data uses the previous confirmed bar to avoid repainting.
🔹 Preset (Default: Auto) Selects a preconfigured profile that automatically sets all parameters in the Entry and Risk groups. With "Auto," the preset is chosen based on the chart timeframe: M1-M5 → Scalping, M6-H1 → Default, H2-H4 → Aggressive, D1+ → Swing. Selecting "Custom" allows you to modify every parameter manually.
🎯 GROUP: Entry Engine
🔹 EMA Fast (Default: 9 | Range: 3-50) The period of the fast exponential moving average. Lower values (5-8) make it more responsive to price movements, generating more frequent crossovers but with more noise. Higher values (12-15) make it slower but the signals are more reliable. Overridden by the selected preset (except with "Custom"). Values per preset: Scalping=5, Aggressive=8, Default=9, Conservative=12, Swing=13.
🔹 EMA Slow (Default: 21 | Range: 10-100) The period of the slow EMA. Together with the Fast EMA it forms the "ribbon" visible on the chart. The crossover between Fast and Slow is the fundamental trigger for every signal. The distance between the two periods affects crossover frequency: closer periods (e.g. 9/18) generate more signals; wider periods (e.g. 13/34) generate fewer signals but on more significant moves. Values per preset: Scalping=13, Aggressive=18, Default=21, Conservative=26, Swing=34.
🔹 EMA Trend (Default: 55 | Range: 20-200) The long-period EMA that defines the macro trend. Price above this EMA indicates a bullish context, below indicates bearish. It is drawn on the chart as a dotted gray line. Typical values are 50, 55, 89 (Fibonacci number), 100, or 200. Values per preset: Scalping=34, Default=55, Conservative/Swing=89.
🔹 Min Score (Default: 5 | Range: 1-10) The minimum confluence threshold required to generate a signal. This is the most impactful parameter on the entire indicator. A value of 3 generates many signals (more trades, more noise). A value of 7 generates very few signals but they are highly filtered. The relationship is not linear: going from 5 to 7 can reduce signals by 70-80%. Values per preset: Scalping=4, Aggressive=3, Default=5, Swing=6, Conservative=7.
🔹 RSI Len (Default: 13 | Range: 5-30) The period of the Relative Strength Index. Shorter periods (8-10) make the RSI more nervous and responsive, useful for scalping. Longer periods (14-21) make it more stable, suitable for swing trading. The RSI is not used as a direct signal but contributes +1.0 to the score if it is in the right zone (50-75 for Long, 25-50 for Short) and acts as a filter (blocks Longs if RSI > 75, blocks Shorts if RSI < 25).
🔹 Grade Filter (Default: All) Filters signals by quality grade (see Grading section). "All" shows every valid signal. "A+ and A" shows only signals with score ≥ 6.5. "A+ Only" shows only signals with score ≥ 8.0. This filter is applied ON TOP of Min Score. Example: if you use the Aggressive preset (minScore=3) with Grade Filter "A+ Only," signals with scores of 3-7.9 will still be filtered out.
🔹 Hide C-Grade (Default: true) When enabled, hides signals with score < 5.0 (C grade). Useful with low-threshold presets (Aggressive, Scalping) to avoid low-quality signals leaking through. Has no effect when the Grade Filter is already set to "A+" or "A+ and A" since those thresholds are already above 5.0.
🛡️ GROUP: Risk Management
🔹 ATR Length (Default: 14 | Range: 5-50) The period of the Average True Range, which measures the instrument's average volatility. Used to calculate the Stop Loss distance and, indirectly, the Take Profit levels. A 14-period ATR is the industry standard. Shorter values (10) react more quickly to volatility changes. Values per preset: Scalping=10, Default=14, Swing/Crypto=20.
🔹 SL ATR Mult (Default: 1.5 | Range: 0.5-5.0) The ATR multiplier for Stop Loss calculation. The SL is placed at a distance = ATR × this value from entry. Example: if ATR = 100 pips and the multiplier is 1.5, the SL is 150 pips from entry. Tighter values (0.8-1.2) give less risk per trade but more stop-outs. Wider values (2.0-3.0) give the trade more room to breathe but higher risk. Values per preset: Scalping=0.8, Aggressive=1.2, Default=1.5, Conservative=2.0, Swing=2.5.
🔹 TP1 R:R (Default: 1.0 | Range: 0.5-5.0) The first Take Profit level, expressed as a multiple of risk. With TP1=1.0, the target is at a distance equal to the SL from entry (1:1 risk-reward ratio). If the SL is 150 pips away, TP1 is at 150 pips of profit. This is the "partial profit-taking" target — the most likely to be reached.
🔹 TP2 R:R (Default: 2.0 | Range: 1.0-8.0) The second Take Profit. With TP2=2.0, the target is at twice the SL distance. Represents a good point to close another portion of the position. If trailing is active, upon reaching TP2 the stop is moved to the TP1 level (locking in profit).
🔹 TP3 R:R (Default: 3.0 | Range: 1.5-12.0) The third and final Take Profit — the "runner." With TP3=3.0, the target is at three times the SL distance. Reaching TP3 is less frequent but highly profitable. Represents trades that "run" far in the right direction.
🔹 Trailing Stop (Default: true) 🔄 When active, the SL is progressively moved as TPs are reached: after TP1 → SL moves to breakeven (entry price). After TP2 → SL moves to the TP1 level. After TP3 → SL moves to the TP2 level. This mechanism "locks in" profits and turns part of the trade into a risk-free operation. Strongly recommended to keep active.
🔹 Structure SL (Default: true) 🏗️ When active, the Stop Loss is placed below/above the recent swing low/high instead of at a pure ATR distance. This placement is more realistic because the SL sits behind a structural support/resistance level. The indicator chooses the better of the ATR stop and the structural stop, with a guaranteed minimum distance of 0.5×ATR to prevent stops that are too tight.
🔹 Swing Lookback (Default: 10 | Range: 3-30) The number of bars to look back for the most recent swing low/high, used by the Structure SL. With 10, the indicator searches for the minimum/maximum of the last 10 bars. Higher values (15-20) find more significant structural levels but potentially further away, increasing per-trade risk.
🎨 GROUP: Visual Settings
🔹 Show Signals (Default: true) — Shows/hides the arrows and "Long"/"Short" labels on the chart.
🔹 Show TP/SL (Default: true) — Shows/hides the horizontal lines for Entry (blue), Stop Loss (red), TP1/TP2/TP3 (dashed green), and their corresponding text. Hit levels turn teal with a checkmark ✓.
🔹 Show EMA (Default: true) — Shows/hides the three EMA lines (Fast=green, Slow=red, Trend=dotted gray).
🔹 Show Trail (Default: true) — Shows/hides the trailing stop line (orange, dotted) when the trailing is active and has moved from the original SL level.
🔹 Show Grade (Default: true) — Adds the quality grade (A+, A, B, C) to the signal label. Example: "Long A+" or "Short B."
🔹 Show Watermark (Default: true) — Displays the text "Algotrend — ProSniper v1.2.2" at the bottom center of the chart.
📊 GROUP: Dashboard
🔹 Show Dashboard (Default: true) — Displays the information panel in the top right corner with: current Trend, Score, Trade Status, HTF Bias, Volatility, RSI, ADX, Timeframe, active Preset, Grade Filter, and Version.
🔹 Show Backtest (Default: true) — Displays the statistics panel below the dashboard. Includes: total closed trades (W/L), Win Rate percentage, Average R (mean return per trade), Profit Factor (gains/losses ratio), and cumulative Total R. The panel color changes dynamically: 🟢 green if Total R is positive (net profit), 🔴 red if negative (net loss), 🟡 yellow at breakeven, ⚪ gray with no trades.
🔹 Debug Log (Default: false) 🐛 — Enables diagnostic logging in the cTrader Log console. Useful for troubleshooting: shows every detected EMA crossover with full condition details (score, momentum, RSI, grade, direction), every generated signal, and a final summary. Should be disabled during normal use to avoid cluttering the log.
🎨 GROUP: Colors
🔹 Bull Color (Default: #00E676) — The color for Long signals, the Fast EMA, and bullish arrows. A bright green visible on dark backgrounds.
🔹 Bear Color (Default: #FF5252) — The color for Short signals, the Slow EMA, and bearish arrows. A coral red visible on dark backgrounds.
5. 📊 PRESETS — COMPARATIVE TABLE
Each preset automatically configures 7 parameters. Here is the complete comparison:
Parameter🏎️ Scalping⚡ Aggressive⚖️ Default🛡️ Conservative📅 Swing🌐 Crypto 24/7
EMA Fast
5
8
9
12
13
9
EMA Slow
13
18
21
26
34
21
EMA Trend
34
50
55
89
89
55
RSI Len
8
11
13
14
21
14
ATR Len
10
12
14
14
20
20
Min Score
4
3
5
7
6
5
SL Mult
0.8×
1.2×
1.5×
2.0×
2.5×
2.0×
When to use which preset:
🏎️ Scalping — Timeframes M1-M5. Fast signals, tight stops, many trades. Requires constant attention and low spread. Ideal for indices and forex majors on M1-M5.
⚡ Aggressive — Timeframes M5-M30. Many signals (minScore=3), suited for those who want more opportunities and filter manually. Risk: more false signals.
⚖️ Default — Timeframes M15-H1. Balanced between frequency and reliability. The recommended starting point for most traders.
🛡️ Conservative — Timeframes H1-H4. Very few signals (minScore=7), but high quality. Wide stops give more room to breathe. Ideal for those who cannot monitor the chart constantly.
📅 Swing — Timeframes H4-D1. Designed for trades lasting days. Slow EMAs (13/34/89), very wide stops (2.5×ATR). Few signals per week.
🌐 Crypto 24/7 — Like Default but with wider ATR and SL to handle the 24h volatility of crypto markets. No session bias.
6. 🏅 THE GRADING SYSTEM
Every signal receives a grade based on its confluence score:
GradeRequired ScoreMeaning
🥇 A+
≥ 8.0 / 10
Exceptional — maximum confluence, all indicators aligned
🥈 A
≥ 6.5 / 10
Good — most factors confirm the trade
🥉 B
≥ 5.0 / 10
Average — sufficient confluence but not strong
❌ C
< 5.0 / 10
Weak — many factors do not confirm, high risk
The grade is displayed next to the signal on the chart (e.g. "Long A+" or "Short B") and can be used to filter signals via the Grade Filter.
An A+ signal on an H1 timeframe with the Default preset means that at least 8 of the 10 factors point in the same direction, including the HTF bias (1.5 points). This type of setup is rare but historically carries a very high success rate.
7. 🛡️ RISK MANAGEMENT — HOW IT WORKS IN DETAIL
Stop Loss Calculation
When a signal fires, the SL is calculated in two ways (if Structure SL is enabled):
- ATR Stop: Entry ± (ATR × SL Multiplier). Example: Entry=100, ATR=2, Mult=1.5 → Long SL = 97.0
- Structure Stop: Recent Swing Low − 0.2×ATR (for Longs) or Swing High + 0.2×ATR (for Shorts). The 0.2×ATR buffer prevents the SL from sitting exactly on the structural level (where stop hunts frequently occur).
The indicator selects the more favorable (tighter) level between the two, with a guaranteed minimum distance of 0.5×ATR.
Take Profit Calculation
TPs are calculated as multiples of risk (Entry-to-SL distance):
Risk = |Entry − SL| TP1 = Entry ± Risk × TP1_Multiplier TP2 = Entry ± Risk × TP2_Multiplier TP3 = Entry ± Risk × TP3_Multiplier
Trailing Stop — Sequence
With trailing active, the progression is: Original SL → TP1 hit → SL moves to breakeven → TP2 hit → SL moves to TP1 → TP3 hit → SL moves to TP2. If price retraces after TP2 and touches TP1 (the new trailing level), the trade closes with a profit equal to TP1 instead of a loss.
How a Trade is Closed in the Backtest
A trade closes when: the SL (or trailing stop) is hit, or an opposing signal fires. The result in "R" depends on how many TPs were reached before closing. With trailing active, if the SL is hit after TP2, the recorded return is TP1 (because the trail was parked there), not TP2.
8. 📊 DASHBOARD — READING THE DATA
Main Panel
FieldMeaning
Trend
Bullish (Fast EMA > Slow AND price > Trend EMA), Bearish (opposite), or Neutral
Score
Current confluence score (of the open trade, or the max bull/bear score)
Status
"No Trade", "Active", "TP1 ✓ Trail", "TP2 ✓ Trail", "TP3 ✓ Trail"
HTF Bias
Trend direction on the higher timeframe
Volatility
"High" (ATR > 1.3× average), "Normal", "Low" (ATR < 0.7× average)
RSI
Current RSI value
ADX
Current ADX value. ✓ = strong trend (> 20)
Timeframe
The current chart timeframe
Preset
The active preset. If Auto, shows "Auto → [resolved preset]"
Grade Filter
The active grade filter
Version
v1.2.2
Backtest Panel (color-coded)
FieldMeaning
Trades
Total closed trades (Wins / Losses)
Win Rate
Percentage of winning trades (at least TP1 reached)
Avg R
Mean return per trade in risk units. > 0.5R = good
Profit Factor
Sum of gains / Sum of losses. > 1.5 = good, > 2.0 = excellent
Total R
Cumulative total return in risk units
9. 💡 PRACTICAL USAGE TIPS
🔹 Start with the Default preset on an M15 or H1 timeframe. It is the most balanced starting point.
🔹 Set the HTF Trend Filter one level above your operating timeframe: M15 → H1, H1 → H4, H4 → Daily. The HTF bias is worth 1.5 points and makes a major difference in signal quality.
🔹 Do not lower Min Score below 4 without a good reason. Signals below 4/10 have insufficient confluence.
🔹 Use the "A+ and A" Grade Filter if you want quality over quantity. You will get fewer signals but each trade will have at least 6-7 aligned factors.
🔹 Keep the Trailing Stop active. It systematically converts winning trades into risk-free operations after TP1.
🔹 Check the Backtest before trading. If the panel is red on your instrument/timeframe, consider changing the preset or timeframe before risking real capital.
🔹 In ranging markets (ADX < 20, Volatility "Low"), signals are less reliable. The ADX in the dashboard tells you this in real time.
🔹 For Crypto, use the "Crypto 24/7" preset which has wider stops to handle gaps and overnight volatility.
🔹 The Debug Log is useful if an expected signal does not fire. Enable it, reload the chart, and check in the Log which condition is blocking the signal.
10. ⚖️ STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS
✅ Strengths
True multi-confluence — 10 independent factors, not just overlapping indicators. Each factor captures a different aspect of the market (trend, momentum, volume, volatility, higher timeframe).
Intelligent presets — The Auto system selects optimal parameters for the timeframe, eliminating the need for manual optimization for most users.
Integrated risk management — Structural SL + automatic trailing + 3 TP levels offer professional trade management without the need for external tools.
Real-time backtest — You can immediately evaluate whether the indicator works on your instrument before risking capital.
Non-repainting HTF — The higher-timeframe bias uses the previous confirmed bar, preventing signals that retroactively change.
Transparent grading — You can see exactly why a signal is A+ or B by looking at the score and factors in the dashboard.
⚠️ Limitations
Not an automated system — It is an indicator, not a bot. Signals should be visually confirmed by the trader. It does not open or close trades.
Simplified backtest — Assumes entry at bar close and does not account for slippage, commissions, or spread. Real results will be slightly worse.
Approximate VWAP — In cTrader, VWAP is calculated using Tick Volume (not real volume), making it less accurate on OTC instruments like Forex.
Underperforms in ranges — Like all EMA crossover-based indicators, it generates false signals in trendless, sideways markets.
Trailing can cap profits — In very strong trends, the trailing stop may close the trade prematurely. Without trailing, a trade reaching TP3 records +3R; with trailing, if SL is hit after TP3 the recorded return is +2R (because the trail was parked at TP2).
📌 Document generated for Pro Sniper v1.2.2 — cTrader Port Last updated: April 2026
